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Everything posted by CrockpotandGravel

Thanks for sharing progress at 2401 Watson and the signage for Active Passion.
My antivirus program aborted connectivity to their website for phishing.
So for anyone else wanting to avoid the same fate, Active Passion is on Facebook and Instagram: https://www.facebook.com/myactivepassion https://www.instagram.com/myactivepassion

The website for Heights Waterworks Broadstone or Broadstone Heights Waterworks at 515 W 20th St in Houston. https://www.broadstoneheightswaterworks.com/
The floor plans were uploaded this month, but most of the site is still a works in progress. The gallery photos are generic stock photos and renderings of the Wilshire apartments in California.
From the website:
Amenities: Your Houston Heights lifestyle includes exclusive access to our top-of-the-line amenities suite: a private library and gaming lounge, a state-of-the-art fitness center with virtual training and yoga, a sparkling pool with cabanas and lawn games, a community pizza oven, pet-friendly perks, and an artfully curated music lounge await. And that’s only the beginning. A swanky rooftop lounge – created especially for residents and their guests – is the communal centerpiece, offering unparalleled views and beauty alongside the culture and energy that define our historic setting.
Features:
Expansive Resident Areas including a Library with Computer Lounge, Main Parlor for Games and Entertainment, Eighth Floor Grand Salon with a Private Dining Area, and a Terrace Viewing Deck
Athletic Gym featuring Strength and Cardio Equipment, Wellbeats Virtual Training, a Fitness Lounge and Yoga Lawn
Outdoor Grilling Kitchen with Pizza Oven and Comfortable Dining Area
Pool with Shaded Cabanas, Lounge Seating and Lawn Games
Indoor Pet Spa and Salon with Outdoor Green Space
Music Lounge
24/7/365 Parcel Lockers with Refrigerated Storage
Controlled-Access Bike Storage
Socials ( Facebook and Instagram): https://www.facebook.com/BroadstoneHeightsWaterworks
https://www.instagram.com/bsheightswaterworks

Mural by artist Allison Brown inside Jinya Ramen Bar restaurant in the Heights.
This is located at 449 W 19th St in Heights Waterworks in Houston.
Posted to Instagram last week: https://www.instagram.com/p/B1_467YhPS6/

Text from the document in the Rotary House International Hotel Tower bidding package (so it's searchable through the forum search and appears as an result preview on Google search).
This proposed project is in Houston's Texas Medical Center area.
Owner seeks Design-Build services to expand the Rotary House International Hotel and complete a skybridge to cross S. Braeswood Blvd.
This project includes the design, construction and activation of a new hotel tower immediately adjacent to and connected to the existing and occupied Rotary House International (RHI) hotel, located at the corner of Holcombe Boulevard and South Braeswood Boulevard.
The Project will:
Include a hotel tower that includes approximately 182 guest rooms and suites, plus additional support space
Additional spaces may include:
 Restaurant and kitchen
 Laundry facilities (for guests)
 Conference/meeting room space
 Pool & Spa Renovation
 Food and beverage “grab and go” / retail space
 Utility tie-ins (TECO, electrical, gas, etc)
 Service dock
 Building transformer pad
 Elevators and elevator lobby
Include renovation and expansion of portions of the existing facility to improve the functionality of the hotel, such as relocation of the front desk and the expansion of the kitchen and dining areas
Be designed and constructed to a “Marriott Premium” level (ex. Marriott, Sheraton,
Marriot Full Service)
Include the design and construction of a pedestrian bridge from across South Braeswood
Blvd. that will directly connect the hotel to the parking garage located on the east side of
South Braeswood Blvd. An additional bridge connection may be included from the hotel
tower to Garage 17 immediately south of the Project location.

Jinya Ramen Bar announced the Heights Waterworks location in Houston is opening next week.
Private family & friends events are being held there this weekend.
From Facebook today: Attention Heights Waterworks, Houston: We are so excited to announce that we will finally be opening TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17! https://www.facebook.com/JinyaRamenBar/photos/a.827261643999399/2632989643426581
From Instagram yesterday:

This is one of those few and far in between rare moments when I agree with Ross.
But he did take the words out of my mouth. Properties between N Durham and N Shepherd Dr are going commercial, with homeowners selling their homes to commercial developers. Infill commercial development in that pocket of the Heights is increasing by the day.
Imagine living on one of those streets between N Durham and N Shepherd with new commercial businesses next door. There's increased traffic and noise contributing to a lower quality of life for homes next door. There aren't many people who'd want to live with that.

No. SaltAir is dead. Clark Cooper Concepts owns the domain for it still, so, there is always a possibility it could make a comeback.
But I doubt the remodel is SaltAir. SaltAir closed for a reason. If it were to reopen, it wouldn't open at Centre at River Oaks again.
I know building permits for the remodel list SaltAir, but it's not.
Some developers and permit filers add the name of the previous tenant on building permits for different reasons.

It's true light rail usage could be a factor for an underutilized parking garage at Midtown Park (and that's not a bad thing), but there are also many who don't ride the rail to the park. These are people who don't live near light rail stops or there isn't parking provided at or near railway stops (for those who live near one but it's not within walking distance or isn't near a Metro bus stop so that going ro the rail stop is easily accessible).
This goes more toward people doing their research on parking options beforehand, as well as Midtown Park making visitors more aware of the parking garage. But I'm of the camp that people need to do research beforehand on parking and transportation options.
It grinds my ever-loving gears reading the same posts week after week on Reddit Houston, Facebook groups, and NextDoor asking where to park in downtown Houston in general and Midtown. This information is available online. Maybe this is about people being lazy nowadays, underutilizing free resources online that provide this information (or they're plain lazy to use Google or search on their own - all are problematic.

Construction progress photos of phase 1 of the Houston Botanical Garden or Houston Botanic Garden,
This is located within the former Glenbrook Golf Course in southeast Houston.Photos are from the Houston Chronicle article linked above: (original link) The Susan Garver Family Discovery Garden will have a boardwalk maze, now under construction. (original link) A view of the boardwalk maze construction in the Houston Botanic Garden’s Susan Garver Family Discovery Garden. (original link) A view from the construction on the island toward Botanic Boulevard.
(original link)
Construction workers building a shady walkway that will be called the Alcoves. (original link)
Construction crew building a wall along Botanic Boulevard.

https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/28578-houston-botanical-garden-at-the-glenbrook-golf-course/?do=findComment&comment=587838
More on the global garden collection at Houston Botanical Garden or Houston Botanic Garden, This is within the former Glenbrook Golf Course in southeast Houston.
From Houston Chronicle yesterday:
A Houston gardener can literally grow a world’s worth of edible plants if she isn’t trying to farm on a large scale.
That could be obvious in a grand way next fall, when the first exhibits of the Houston Botanic Garden are slated to open.
Construction is underway to create an entrance from Park Place and transform the heart of the 132-acre site, an area dubbed the Island because it sits high above a Sims Bayou meander within the former Glenbrook Golf Course. Several feature areas, each a different kind of living laboratory, will fill the curvy island.
While the 3-acre Global Garden highlights an array of plants from around the world, with a focus on conservation, the 1-acre Edible Garden will celebrate Houston’s cultural diversity in ways that inspire local vegetable, fruit and herb growers — even those who have less than an acre to play with and are blessed (or cursed, depending on one’s point of view) with shade.
The Edible Garden is not intended to be a farm, says botanic garden president Claudia Gee Vassar. “It’s an educational space.”
Horticulturalist Joy Columbus is most excited about sharing innovative techniques from around the world for growing everything from espaliered apples (pruned flat against a wall) to grains such as rice and tropical shade plants such as tumeric. Home gardeners will be able to “pick and pull techniques like different parts of a salad,” she said.
The landscape architecture team, including West 8 and Clark Condon, have planned seven rooms within the Edible Garden that represent overlapping growing regions. The plants are native to Asia, the Mediterranean, Europe, Africa and the Americas, but all should be quite happy in Houston’s Gulf Coast climate. Here’s what will be packed into that acre:
More: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Houston-Botanic-Garden-s-edible-rooms-14432409.php

From Houston Chronicle's real estate transactions roundup today:
Jumper Maybach Fine Art will open in Uptown Park in October. The gallery is designed to provide an immersive experience with creations of contemporary artist, philanthropist and entrepreneur Ben Workman, also known as Jumper Maybach. The gallery, at 1131 Uptown Park Blvd., will offer fine art, home furnishings, apparel, accessories, gifts and other luxury items. In addition to a consistent art exhibition, the venue will offer rotating performance art and a series of events.
“We are constantly seeking unique new concepts to bring to Uptown Park that introduce culture, a bit of theater and unique experiences for our guests and the Houston community,” Tom Kiler, managing director of Edens, said in an announcement. “We are thrilled to bring Jumper Maybach Fine Art Gallery to our neighborhood and to expand the options found in our re-energized and evolving district.” https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/texas-inc/article/Retail-wrap-My-Eyelab-opens-10-stores-in-Houston-14429739.php

More on FM Kitchen & Bar expansion to 907 Westheimer, Ste 300 and their previous plans to open a restaurant here several years back:
From CultureMap yesterday:
The original FM Kitchen features a massive, 3,000-square-foot patio that has made it one of the Washington corridor’s most popular outdoor dining destinations; however, the new location only has about 100 square feet of outdoor seating. Although that means the two restaurants will offer slightly different experiences, Hildebrand explains that he and business partner Chong Yi decided to evolve the concept slightly rather than seek out a similar location in a suburb like Katy or The Woodlands.
“I think while conceptually it’s adjusted for the environment and the neighborhood, at its core is a basic, simple attempt at doing quality, simple fare,” Hildebrand says. “It’s a little more bar-centric. I think even the design is kind of a shotgun space, so the bar is basically half the space. I think it’s appropriate for the neighborhood.”
In addition to the long bar, the new FM will have more of a pub feel courtesy of booth seating.
...Veterans of the Houston food scene may recall that Hildebrand originally planned to open the first FM concept, known at different times as both Brande and FM 903, at the location that it will now occupy. On that level, coming to Montrose is the homecoming the restaurant never had. http://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/09-11-19-fm-kitchen-bar-restaurant-new-location-montrose-907-westheimer-ryan-hildebrand/

More on Electric FeelGood. This is a new bar in Midtown at 2416 Brazos, Suite A.
From Houston Chronicle yesterday:
A two-story bar with an indoor slide is now open in Midtown.
Electric Feelgood from Carmack Concepts (the team behind The Dogwood bar in Houston, Austin and a soon-to-open outpost in Nashville, Tennessee) launched Tuesday, according to a Thursday release.
Deemed "Houston's retro space saloon," the 11,000 square foot property is decked out with neon lights, brightly painted stucco walls, a 4,000 square-foot covered rooftop patio and a slide lined with LED lights.
...Electric Feelgood is located at 2416 Brazos next door to its sister bar, The Dogwood. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/restaurants-bars/article/Midtown-Electric-Feelgood-bar-with-slide-Dogwood-14434543.php

From Eater Houston yesterday: Construction permits filed for the space at 1818 Washington Avenue indicate that Fry will bring the Optimist, his “seaside fish camp” restaurant to the address. A sales tax permit filed with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts also confirms that location. The Houston outpost is an offshoot of the original Optimist in Atlanta, which Fry opened in 2012 to rave reviews, including a “best new restaurant” nod from Esquire that same year. https://houston.eater.com/2019/9/12/20862560/the-optimist-opening-washington-avenue-ford-fry

In today's real estate section of Houston Chronicle is an article about parking. It touches on developer's use of little or too much spaces allocated for parking, pros & cons of surface parking, transit, and structure parking.
There is this blurb about 1001 W 11th St in the Heights. This is the site of the former West Eleventh Church of God.
Revive Development is repurposing the building. The company provided some details about what's planned.
From Houston Chronicle:
...But for now, parking remains a linchpin of his development strategy.
His [ Bryan Danna ] company recently bought an old church on 11th Street in the Heights and is repositioning the space for a restaurant. The sanctuary will be renovated and a newer building behind the church will be demolished to add more parking.
“The sentiment on the street is to push politically for less parking,” Danna said. “But we’re just not there yet.”
More: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Developers-begin-to-look-past-parking-as-costs-14435977.php

I wholeheartedly agree the underground parking garage at Midtown Park is not at optimal capacity. Not factoring in residents living within walking distance, others travel to the park or places nearby in their vehicles and don't park here. Is it because they want to park closer somewhere else? Afraid to leave their vehicles? Aren't aware of the parking garage?

In today's real estate section of Houston Chronicle is an article about parking. It touches on developer's use of little or too much spaces allocated for parking, pros & cons of surface parking, transit, and structure parking.
There is this blurb about the parking garage at Midtown Park, 2811 Travis: The cost of land in Midtown is pushing upwards of $150 per square foot, said Oxberry’s Jamea. A 5,000-square-foot lot fits only 10 spaces, so $750,000 is a hefty price to pay — especially if there’s ample street parking, he said. There’s also a new public parking garage underneath Midtown Park that Jamea said is underutilized. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Developers-begin-to-look-past-parking-as-costs-14435977.php

In today's real estate section of Houston Chronicle is an article about parking. It touches on developer's use of little or too much spaces allocated for parking, pros & cons of surface parking, transit, and structure parking.There is this blurb about The Crossing at Midtown, 606 Dennis:
As the city center becomes denser, support has swelled for transit infrastructure that’s less dependent on cars. Bike lanes, faster buses and light rail have expanded throughout the inner city. Meanwhile, city officials have established a “walkable places” committee to consider potential changes to Houston’s building and parking ordinances they said will result in more pedestrian-friendly development.
“Traditional requirements don’t work for urban areas anymore,” said developer Pejman “PJ” Jamea, principal of Houston-based Oxberry Group, citing the rise of Uber and the promise of driverless cars in the future.
Oxberry is developing a 21,000 square-foot retail center on Louisiana and Dennis in Midtown. The project was initially designed with 36 parking spaces, but after talking to potential tenants and after the city lifted its requirements, the company decided to cut nine spaces and add a plaza where those spots would have been.
...Parking is often a financial burden, too.
The cost of land in Midtown is pushing upwards of $150 per square foot, said Oxberry’s Jamea. A 5,000-square-foot lot fits only 10 spaces, so $750,000 is a hefty price to pay — especially if there’s ample street parking, he said.
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Developers-begin-to-look-past-parking-as-costs-14435977.php

In today's real estate section of Houston Chronicle is an article about parking. It touches on developer's use of little or too much spaces allocated for parking, pros & cons of surface parking, transit, and structure parking.
There is this blurb about Block 42, the Hines downtown development at 414 Milam:
The new ordinance allowing for more market-based parking was proposed by Mayor Sylvester Turner’s administration and largely backed by urbanists and business leaders.
In addition to safer pedestrian and bicycle transportation and maximizing property values, the city said the change could also result in the construction of more affordable housing units. If apartment developers don’t have to build as much parking, their costs will be less and could therefore charge less in rent.
Houston-based Hines, which is developing a 46-story apartment building downtown, considered reducing the amount of parking planned for the tower after one of its investors from Chicago said it seemed the building was “overparked.”
The change would have reduced the building’s parking ratio to less than 1 car per unit, down from 1.5 cars per unit, said Kevin Batchelor, Hines senior managing director responsible for the firm’s multifamily projects throughout its southwest region. City code requires between 1.25 and 2 cars per unit depending on size and number of bedrooms.
The company opted to stick with its original parking plan. But there will come a time, Batchelor said, when demand for parking will shrink and developers will need to find other uses for their empty garages.
“There’s no question that the parking piece of the equation is changing,” Batchelor said. “At some point people will step out and provide less parking, and they’ll be taking a risk — in the beginning.” https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Developers-begin-to-look-past-parking-as-costs-14435977.php